Question for you sparkies.

[BobT]

Reading a thread in the Equipment-Expert Information forum about the use of GFCI’s in bathrooms reminded me of a problem I have had. When I rewired my garage I installed receptacle outlets on the ceiling for an automatic door opener and lights because I planned to reuse the 4’ fluorescent shop lights I had been using in there for years. They hang from the ceiling and come with a cord and plug. The old circuit didn’t have GFCI protection but now that I’m using a GFCI receptacle to protect the garage circuit, it tripped when I turned on the fluorescent lights. If I unplug the light fixtures everything is fine so my circuit checks out okay. I inspected the fixtures for problems but found nothing that looked like a potential source of the problem. I wanted to ask the inspector about this when he came for the final but I wasn’t home at the time. Have you ever experienced a problem using ballast-driven fluorescent fixtures on GFCI protected circuits?

Thanks,

[CAMAN]

I had the same issue in my garage a couple years ago and did some research. I found out that ballasts have a capacitance to them and do leak a minor amount of current to ground when started. I don't quite know the full details but that is the summary I could best describe.

I just rewired everything so the ceiling fixtures weren't GFCI protected.

[JohnMickish]

GFCIs are goofy when other than resistive loads are put thru them. That's all I'm sayin'.

[Eelpout08]

I dont like to put the lights on a gfci anyway just because if you do trip one at an outlet the lights go off also, and it can be pain in the rear walking to the other side of the garage to reset the gfci in the dark.

[JohnMickish]

I personally woulnd't put my lights on the protected side of a GFCI either. Anything with a motor (fridge, freezer etc) or with a ballast (flourescent, HID, MH, MV lights) are not on a GFCI in my house.

If your in a spot where the code says you need to have a GFCI (ie, unfinished basement) there is a fine print that in some cases you can get away from using the GFCI if you replace it with a single receptacle (not a duplex, but a single) and it is used behind the equipment in a dedicated space.

GFCIs do save lives, there is no doubt behind that, but they can be a PIA too.